Training Log Archive: W

Was, as per usual, running way behind schedule, so only got in an hour's ski before heading to the shop. Conditions were the typical questionable, and there were quite a few off-leash dogs approaching, who then disappeared. Which is disappointing because I wanted to yell at them (not the dogs, their dumb owners).

Cold weather's a-comin', which means its trainer time sometimes. This was one of those times, as the temperature plummeted, and my feet were quite sore from a weekend of running up and down stairs and explaining to people why combi skis are terrible. They always look so disappointed when I tell them they're just skating on classic skis.

Yoikes! Way behind! Another busy weekend ahead with working at the shop both days, since everyone else is wandering off to skiing somewhere.

So, rather than waking up at the crack of dawn to go skiing pre-shop, figured I'd just run to the ship in directly and get in a nice brisk run that way, which worked out pretty well. Bloody cold, though, and slow, a soft layer of snow underfoot made it pretty hard work to even get a shred of speed.

Just a regular ol' ski at Goldbar. The conditions were not great, since the grooming is so abysmal. A small skiff of new snow made it a bit slower, but my VF30 was sticking real real nice. Still, a lot of debris in places, a strange section that has become really really dirty, and all the standard ruts that comes from a) grooming at 10AM, and b) walkers being jerks.

With the weather getting colder, I decided to bite the bullet and set up my trainer downstairs. So, a quick hour spin while watching "The Dictator". Hilarious.

Another higher pace evening run in the wobbly snow and rolling hills. Did the paved stuff on the way out, which was flat and I averaged 4:45, then the pace went down on the way back due to several hills and uneven ground. Did a little extra loop for a nice long(ish) climb out of the valley from the equine centre. I like that little addition. Turns a 45 minute run into 50 minute run without noticing.

Morning jog around through whitemud, featuring a miniclimb out of the ravine. Aside from those brief climb-y moments, maintained a fairly even pace, though its often hard to tell because of these strange pace plummets where I apparently went down to 45:00 mins/km. Clearly those are the occasions when I stopped to wait for a light, or pee, but I'm pretty sure I stopped my watch, and you would think that the software would have the ability to smooth that kind of stuff out. You know, have a certain amount of logic to it. You'd think.

Did a ski specific strength workout around the flat-lands of Victoria park. 2 laps of arms only, followed by two laps of legs only, followed by 1 lap of arms only, 1 lap of diagonal poling, and then one last lap of legs only. Good stuff, surprisingly crowded, skate track was much, much slower than the classic track.

Brisk run at my new pace. Well, pace is not a wickedly accurate statement, because given the wobbly snow and darkness, its not like I can maintain a similar pace than if I were on the road, for instance. But, the effort is really what I was aiming for. Definitely faded in the last 10 minutes or so, though.